Now Commenting On:

Getz rips six hits, Shields effective in nightcap

3/27/13: Chris Getz hammers a triple down the right-field line to drive in Alex Gordon and give the Royals a 1-0 edge in the first inning

By Dick Kaegel
/
MLB.com |

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Chris Getz went 6-for-6 for the split-squad Royals, but it wasn't enough to pull out a victory over the Cubs on Wednesday night.

James Shields, warming up for his Opening Day starting assignment against the White Sox, had a productive outing against the Cubs but that wasn't enough either.

The teams settled for a 10-inning, 9-9 tie when the game was ended by mutual agreement in front of 6,842 fans at Surprise Stadium.

Getz had a triple, a double and four singles in his perfect night. He led off the 10th inning with his sixth hit, raising Royals' hopes, but was wiped out as Billy Butler grounded into a double play against left-hander Jeff Antigua.

"Obviously, I'd much rather it'd be an official game, but I felt good from the first at-bat on," Getz said. "I've been feeling good for a while now and to get results, that's rewarding. It was a fun night and it's too bad we couldn't pull off the 'W' but it certainly helps confidence for me going into the year."

Shields gave up two runs on three hits in five innings. But reliever Luke Hochevar was tagged for five runs in the eighth inning and the comeback Cubs tied the score, 9-9, in the ninth against his successor, Aaron Crow. The two ninth-inning runs came on Darwin Barney's double, Nate Schierholtz's triple and David DeJesus' sacrifice fly.

This was Shields' fifth Cactus League start and he finished with a 2-1 record and a 6.75 ERA, rebounding from his worst outing five days ago. Shields wheeled through four innings, facing the minimum 12 batters, before giving up two runs in the fifth.

"I ended it strong, I feel really good out there -- really crisp," Shields said. "I was pounding the strike zone, getting ahead of hitters for the most part, and it was a good way to end it."

The Royals made a pleasant 81-degree evening rather unpleasant for Scott Feldman. The Cubs' No. 4 starter was cuffed for seven runs on 12 hits in his 4 1/3 innings.

Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas, Salvador Perez and Alex Gordon each clubbed a solo home run off Feldman.

The Cubs' eighth-inning eruption against Hochevar included Schierholtz's single, DeJesus' triple, Luis Valbuena's double, Anthony Rizzo's walk, Alfonso Soriano's single and Dioner Navarro's two-run double that brought the Cubs to within a run.

The triple gave DeJesus a 14-game hitting streak.

"Shields was putting it where he wanted. He was tough," DeJesus said. "Then the lefty [Tim Collins] came in. The only pitch I really got to hit was the one I hit for a triple, it was elevated and up over the plate and I was able to take a short swing to it. That kind of got the ball rolling and that was a big inning for us."

Up next: The Royals' last Cactus League trip will mark their fourth visit to Goodyear Ballpark, where they'll meet the Reds at 3:05 p.m. CT on Thursday. Right-hander Ervin Santana will get his last tuneup for his start against the White Sox in the season's second game on April 3 at Chicago. First baseman Eric Hosmer is scheduled to play right field as the Royals prime him for possible outfield play during Interleague games. Mat Latos is the Reds' probable starter.

Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.